Apparatus for coiling metal strip



NOV. 6, 1962 w OBRIEN ETAL 3,062,470

APPARATUS FOR COILING METAL STRIP Filed Feb. 17, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l [Mm/W222i 1L BY .umss e. 104/4 Nov. 6, 1962 J. w. OBRIEN ETAL 3,062,470

APPARATUS FOR COILING METAL STRIP Filed Feb. 17, 1960 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS JFQfM/Af/ IV OER/EN Jill/5 R. ADA/4Q AWOR/YE/ Nov. 6, 1962 J. w. O'BRIEN ETAL APPARATUS FOR COILING METAL STRIP Filed Feb. 17, 1960 JEREMMH 14 8llV N m M 44 4 5 M J 1962 J. w. OBRIEN EAI'AL 3,

APPARATUS FOR COILING METAL STRIP Filed Feb. 17, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TORS 159mm #14 0 ea/5v JAMES A. 404/4? ATTORNEY United States Patent Fatented Nov. 6, 1962 Free 3,062,47 APPARATUS FOR COELING METAL STRIP Jeremiah W. OBrien and James R. Adair, Pittsburgh, Pa.,

This invention relates to metal strip coiling apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for coiling metal strip efficiently and rapidly as it issues from a hot strip metal rolling mill.

Heretofore, with respect to apparatus for coiling metal strip, especially hot metal strip as it is delivered from the last stand of a multiple stand finishing mill, for example, considerable loss of production time has been experienced when the coilers associated with the mill are to be serviced and/or replaced. It has been the normal practice to so arrange and mount the various elements making up the coiler that only by dismantling certain portions of the mill run out table and pinch roll strip feeding units, or other feeding devices associated with the coilers, does the coiler then become accessible to the workmen to carry out necessary repairs or replacements. Due to the fact that the workmen are required to work in close quarters and then under the extremely adverse conditions by reason of the hot metal passing overhead and scalding water dropping all about them, it is evident that the repairs or replacements will be accomplished only in a most dangerous and inefficient manner.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide strip coiling apparatus which may be rapidly removed from and replaced in the coiling position most expeditiously and efiiciently.

It is another object of this invention to combine in an integral unit various elements defining a coiler, including a reel and related apparatus adapted to be rapidly removed from the operating position and readily replaced by a similar unit, thereby reducing the time considerably as may normally be required for such operations.

A further object of this invention is to combine a reel and a retractable roller wrapper assembly normally employed in conjunction therewith for coiling strip material issuing from a hot mill, which combination includes the driving mechanism for the various elements thereof, the combination being so arranged as to lend itself to rapid removal from the operating position for servicing and/ or replacement.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a reel and roller wrapper combination for coiling strip material issuing from a hot mill, including the driving elements associated therewith, which combination may be readily removed from the normal operating position and without disturbing the mills themselves or the conveying and feeding apparatus associated therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coiler comprising a frame and reel which may be rapidly withdrawn to an inoperative position and from which combination the reel may be readily separated for servicing and/or replacement.

These objects as well as the various other novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus incorporating the features of the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view taken on lines II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the coiler and associated apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevation view of the slidable frames and elements associated therewith shown generally in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal detail view, partly in section, of the reel supporting shaft and elements connected thereto, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on lines VI-VI of FIG. 4.

With reference particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the coiling apparatus embodying the features of our invention are shown in combination with a hot mill run out table 11 and pinch roll feeding apparatus 12 for directing strip material into and through a suitable guide 13 to the coiler proper. The main frame 14 of the coiler comprises a base 15 to which, at spaced points, one behind the other, there are secured a pair of upright members 16, as shown to the left of FIGS. 2 and 3, and a pair of upright members 17, one behind the other, shown to the right of FIG. 2. Bridging the space between the two forward upright members 16 and 17, there is a fabricated cap 18 which, by suitable bolts, is secured at its ends to the two members. A second cap 18, similar to that positioned across the forward members, is also secured in a similar fashion to the two rearward members 16 and 17.

Extending outward from the rearward member 17, there are two brackets 19 to which there is pivotally secured the cylinder of a piston cylinder assembly 21. The piston rod of the assembly is pivotally secured at its outer end to a lever 22 secured to a shaft 23 rotatable mounted in spaced bearings 24 secured to the upper portions of members 16. A pair of levers 25, also secured to the shaft 23, are, by means of suitable intermediate links 25a, operatively secured to a frame 26 upon which is supported a guide 27 and wrapper roller 28. The frame 26 is secured for pivotal movement to a shaft 31 which extends through suitable openings in the two caps 18 and is readily removable therefrom in order to permit ready detachment and removal of the frame 26 and associated parts to provide clearance at the top of the main coiler frame for a purpose to be later defined.

Extending outward from the rearward member 16 and in a direction toward the drive side of the coiler, there is a support 32 to which the cylinder of a piston assembly 33 is pivotally secured. The outer end of the piston rod of the assembly is connected to a lever 34 keyed to a shaft 35 supported in suitable bearings 36 affixed to the two members 16. A pair of levers 37 are also keyed to the shaft 35 and, by suitable links 37a, to a frame 38 upon which is supported a curved guide 39 and wrapper roller 41. The frame 38 is secured for pivotal movement to a shaft 42. suitably supported in the coiler main frame.

Also mounted upon and welded to the base 15 there is a pedestal 43 upon which a housing 44, having a removable upper cover portion 44a, is secured and through which extends a shaft 45 of an expansible reel or mandrel 46. As shown in FIG. 5 the shaft is rotatably mounted in suitable thrust bearing 47 and 48 contained within the housing 44. Keyed to the shaft 45, intermediate the bearings 47 and 48, there is a gear 49 which meshes in driving relationship with a pinion 50 keyed to a shaft 51 supported in bearings 52 and 53 within the lower portion of the housing 44. The shaft 45 is provided with an opening within which a reel expanding rod 54 is confined, which rod is adapted to be reciprocated by means of a rotatable hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 55 secured to the main reel shaft at the outer end thereof. On removal of the cover portion 44a, the reel shaft 45 and the bearings 47 and 48 together with the gear 49 are all exposed and may be readily lifted out of the frame, by means of a crane or the like, for servicing.

The base 15 which supports the integral unit comprising the reel 46 and associated wrapper rollers, as well as the elements comprising a portion of the reel driving mechanism, is, by means of guides 56, slidably mounted on a pair of elongated bearing members 57, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and which are attached to a sub-base 58 secured to the foundation.

Also slidably mounted upon the members 57 by means of guides 59, there is an additional frame 61 upon which a motor 62 is mounted, the shaft of which is connected by suitable couplings, to the shaft 51 to which the pinion 54) is secured. At spaced points, one behind the other, there are two pedestals 63 secured to the frame 61 upon which similar motors 64 are mounted. One of the motors is connected by a suitable shaft and coupling to the wrapper roller 28 and the other by a similar shaft and coupling to the wrapper roller 41.

The two frames 14 and 6]. are coupled together by links 65 attached by suitable pins to brackets 66 and 67 extending from the ends of the frames 14 and 61 respectively.

Between the bearing members 57 and secured to the sub-base 53, there is a double acting cylinder 68 having a piston rod 69 extending therefrom which is secured at its end by a suitable pin 6% to the frame 61. Movement of the piston rod 69 to the left will cause the frames 14 and 61, together with the elements supported thereon, including the reel, to move to the left as shown in FIG. 3, thus to withdraw the reel from its operative position to a position remote therefrom where servicing or replacement may be readily accomplished without subjecting the servicemen to the normal risks and dangers incident to servicing reels in place as is presently done. For illustrative purposes, the two uprights 16 of the main coiler frame and outer end of frame 61 are shown in dot and dash lines to indicate the most remote withdrawn position of the assembly will take on withdrawal from the coiling position.

Located across the pit in which the reel assembly is slidably mounted, FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two girders 71 which are secured at their ends to suitable structural supports 72 and 73 respectively. Beneath the girders 71 and mounted in suitable bearings, there is a plurality of conveyor rollers 74 connected to and driven by individual motors 75 which are also mounted beneath one of the girders 71. Mounting of the rollers 74 beneath the girders serves a very essential purpose, that being to permit the coiling mechanism to be placed most adjacent to the conveyor. The guide assembly 13, then, which comprises member 76 pivotally secured between the caps 18, the members 77 and 78 also secured between the caps, the members 79 and 80 forming a throat through the structural support 73, and the pivotal member 81, can be made as short as possible which minimizes the possibility of cobbles being formed in the strip between the pinch rolls and the coiler. The member 81 is so arranged that it may be readily pivoted upward to a horizontal position thereby to close the gap for preventing the leading end of the strip from being inadvertently directed into the coiler which is to be blocked off for servicing or otherwise. The pinch roll assembly 82 is, as shown in FIG. 2, mounted outside the coiling pit and separate from the coiling mechanism. Thus, neither the pinch roll assembly nor the table conveyor assembly, which is also mounted independently of the coiler, need be disturbed when the assembly, including the frame, reel, and drives, is moved transversely of the conveyor from the reel coiling position to a position remote therefrom which position, as mentioned heretofore, is shown generally in FIG. 3 by the dot and dash lines.

An additional feature of this invention is a stripper carriage 83 which, by means of wheels 84 secured thereto, can be moved along suitable tracks 85 from a position beneath the reel, where a coil is received thereby, to a position outward of the reel and coiler main frame to the right of FIG. 1 to an unloading position. The tracks 85 are secured to the sub-base 58 and to a suitable foundation extending to the right of FIG. 1. Above the carriage 83 and secured to a platform 86 there are two rollers 87 which are offset with respect to the centerline of the carriage and spaced equal distances from each other on either side of the centerline of the reel. The platform is actuated vertically by means of a piston cylinder assembly 88 attached thereto and to the carriage.

As is shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4, an open passage way is provided through the sub-base. portion beneath the reel and outward thereof so as to permit the coil stripper carriage to be passed without interference within the frame work assembly into and out of its coil receiving position. The stripper carriage is reciprocated into and out of the coil receiving position by means of a longitudinally extending I-beam 89 which is secured at one end to the carriage and at the other end to the piston rod of a piston cylinder assembly 91 mounted within the sub-base and beneath the piston cylinder assembly 68. The l-beam 89 is slidably supported within a guide 2 which is also secured to the sub-base as shown particularly in FIG. 6.

Closely adjacent to the pinch roll assembly 82 secured between the girders 71 of the run out table, there is a guide which consists of two members 93 secured for movement toward and away from each other to a right and left hand threaded screw 94 rotatably secured to the girders 71 and driven by a suitable reversable motor 95. When the guide members 93 are set to accommodate the widest width of strip, the sides of the girders 71 help to prevent the strip from sliding over the ends of the table rolls should there be a tendency for the strip to do so.

To the sub-base 58 and at the end of the bearing members 57 there are secured suitable stops FIG. 3, which engage with the forward end portion of the front guides secured to the base 15 when the coiler assembly is moved into its operative coiling position. In order that there be no relative movement between the base 15 and the frame 61 with respect to the sub-base 53, suitable locking devices are provided. Each locking device on the one side of the base 15 consists of tWo plates 97 welded to the base and between which an eyebolt 98 is secured for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with a clevis 99 secured to the sub-base 53. A nut at the lower end of the bolt is tightened against the clevis to prevent the bolt from inadvertently being dislodged. On the opposite side of the coiler as shown only in FIG. 2, the locking devices consist of two plates 101 welded to the under surface of the base 15 between which an eyebolt 102 is pivotally secured for movement into and out of engagement with a clevis 103 secured to the sub-base 58. A nut at the bottom of the bolt secures the bolt in its locking position.

Each of the locking devices for the frame 61, of which there are two on either side, and as can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6 consists of a pair of brackets 104 secured to the frame 61 having an eyebolt 105 pivotally secured therebetween and adapted to be swung downwardly into engagement with a clevis 106 secured to the sub-base. There is a not at the end of each eyebolt for locking the bolts within the clevises 106.

When the coil apparatus assembly is to be retracted from the operative to the inoperative position for servicing, it is merely necessary to loosen and swing the various eyebolts outwardly of the sub-base and apply pressure to the cylinder 68 to move the piston rod 69 to the left thereby to cause the assembly to move to its extreme position to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle and operation of our invention and have illustrated and described what we consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, we desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for coiling strip material comprising a base, a frame slidably mounted upon said base, detachable locking means engaging said frame for preventing relative movement between said frame and said base, an expansible mandrel rotatably mounted upon said frame, mandrel rotating means secured to said frame, wrapper roller assemblies secured to said frame cooperating with said mandrel to effect the coiling of the strip, means in alignment with and for delivering the strip to one of said wrapper roll assemblies, and means secured to and for moving said frame, mandrel and mandrel rotating means as a unit along said base thereby to withdraw said mandrel from the normal operating position thereof to a position remote therefrom and away from the strip delivery means.

2. Apparatus for coiling strip material according to claim 1 including strip feeding means comprising a conveyor having a pair of spaced parallel horizontal support members and a plurality of spaced parallel conveyor rolls secured to said members along the length and at the under surface thereof, said members and said rolls being so related to said frame and mandrel to permit said frame and mandrel to pass freely therebeneath and in close proximity thereto.

3. Apparatus for coiling strip material according to claim 1, including a coil carriage, a pair of tracks for sup porting said carriage, said frame being so related to said carriage to permit said carriage to pass freely from a position adjacent to a position remote from said mandrel, and means secured to and for moving said carriage.

4. Apparatus for coiling strip material according to claim 3 in which said means for moving said carriage comprises a rigid member secured at one end to said carriage, a pair of guides secured to said base and within which said member is adapted to be reciprocated and a piston cylinder assembly connected to said base and to the other end of said rigid member.

5. Apparatus for coiling strip material according to claim 1 in which said means for moving said frame, mandrel and mandrel rotating means comprises a piston cylinder assembly interposed between said frame and said base.

6. Apparatus for coiling strip material according to claim 1 in which said mandrel rotating means includes means for readily disconnecting said mandrel from said rotating means and said frame.

7. Apparatus for coiling strip material according to claim 1 in which said mandrel rotating means includes a casing having an upper and a lower portion, one of which is readily removable relative to the other, a shaft rotatably mounted within the non-removal casing portion, a pinion secured to said shaft, a second shaft secured to said mandrel and rotatably supported by and between said casing portions, a gear secured to said last-mentioned shaft and in engagement with said pinion, said removable and nonremovable casing portions and said second shaft and gear being so related as to permit said second shaft and gear to be readily removed from said casing on removal of said removable casing portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,419,699 Wood Apr. 29, 1947 2,470,235 Burrell May 17, 1949 2,558,055 Meredith June 26, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 582,377 Germany Aug. 8, 1933 957,208 Germany Jan. 31, 1957 

